Fitting to say Michelle Spacek's basketball career is moving along rapidly in the right direction.
After being named a first team all-star at the B.C. AAA senior girls high school provincial tournament last March, the Riverside Rapids' five-foot-seven guard has committed to join the Simon Fraser Clan university women's team next fall, it was announced Tuesday.
"I wanted to come to SFU to join a high-quality basketball program," said Spacek, whose moving from the tutelage of coach Paul Langford at Riverside to that of his brother, Bruce, with the Clan. "I think I'm a strong shooter and I try to put the team ahead of personal stats. There are so many good players already on the team and I'm excited to be a part of that."
Last season, Spacek dressed in 34 games with the Rapids and led the squad with an average of 12.6 points per game. She was also by far the squad's best three-point shooter, draining 105 treys on the campaign.
"Heading into my first season at SFU, I just want to work hard and try to establish a role on the team," added Spacek, who plans to pursue a degree in Health Sciences at SFU.
In Spacek, Clan head coach Bruce Langford believes he has secured one of the premier graduating prep players in the province.
"Michelle has been on one of the top teams in the province for several years. She is the best three-point shooter on the best-shooting high school team. She is extremely competitive and puts in quality time to work on her athleticism, strength and skill.
"Our league requires players who have some fire and she has it."
In women's soccer, the Clan received a commitment from Centennial Centaurs' star midfielder Olivia Aguiar.
A member of the Commissioner's 11 all-star squad at last weekend's B.C. AAA senior girls high school championships in Surrey, Aguiar helped lead the Cents to a solid sixth-place showing among 16 squads.
Clan head coach Shelley Howieson expects Aguiar to compete strongly for a starting spot her freshman season.
"Olivia brings an offensive threat to the midfield that will have defenders... chasing her in many situations," Howieson said. "I really like her vision and ball skills. I think she will be able to create some excellent scoring opportunities in every game."
